Yang Ho wished to see Confucius, but Confucius would not go to see him.
阳货欲见孔子，孔子不见。
On this, he sent a present of a pig to Confucius, who, having chosen a time when Ho was not at home went to pay his respects for the gift, he met him, however, on the way.
归孔子豚，孔子时其亡也而往拜之，遇诸涂。
Ho said to Confucius, "Come, let me speak with you." He then asked, "Can he be called benevolent who keeps his jewel in his bosom, and leaves his country to confusion?"
谓孔子曰：“来，予与尔言。”曰：“怀其宝而迷其邦，可谓仁乎？”
Confucius replied, "No." "Can he be called wise, who is anxious to be engaged in public employment, and yet is constantly losing the opportunity of being so?"
曰：“不可。”“好从事而亟失时，可谓知乎？”
Confucius again said, "No." "The days and months are passing away, the years do not wait for us." Confucius said, "Right, I will go into office."
曰：“不可！”“日月逝矣，岁不我与！”孔子曰：“诺，吾将仕矣。”

The Master said, "By nature, men are nearly alike; by practice, they get to be wide apart."
子曰：“性相近也，习相远也。”
The Master said, "There are only the wise of the highest class, and the stupid of the lowest class, who cannot be changed."
子曰：“唯上知与下愚不移。”
The Master, having come to Wu-ch'ang, heard there the sound of stringed instruments and singing.
子之武城，闻弦歌之声。
Well pleased and smiling, he said, "Why use an ox knife to kill a fowl?"
夫子莞尔而笑，曰：“割鸡焉用牛刀？”